More information about each of the shortlisted entries can be read below.
Outstanding Supervisor of the Year – Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey
Vicky is a Professor of Applied Disability Sport and the Director of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport. A renowned scientist, Vicky is an inspiration to everyone she works with. She has supervised almost 30 PhD students who since graduating have secured leadership roles in Para sport. Additionally, about 20% of the Paris 2024 Paralympics GB Leadership team are alumni of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport.
As an advocate of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), Vicky positively recruits mature and disabled students and goes above and beyond to remove barriers to their success. Her unique supervision method – known as the embedded scientist approach – is replicated elsewhere and has provided students with access to Para athletes, facilities, resources and international travel to support their research.
In 2017, Vicky was awarded the IPC Paralympic Scientific Award in recognition of her commitment to para athlete research.
Outstanding Technician of the Year – Sally Carter
Sally has been described as ‘a confident, helpful and energetic Technician’ who has contributed significantly to improving the culture within the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.
An engaged member of staff, Sally regularly contributes to School Committees and volunteers to support other Technical teams, committed to continuously learning and applying her expertise and skillset far and wide. This can be evidenced through her creative problem-solving approach for laboratory users which resulted in implementing a Research Buddy Scheme, which was piloted in the 23/24 academic year and saved 260 hours of lost data collection and improved the employability of students.
Her expertise has been recognised through Professional Accreditation from the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and she is experienced in providing sports science services to athletes. She has excelled in her role to support the collection of physiological data from human participants and the management of laboratories across two buildings.
Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year – Future Talent Programme
The Future Talent Programme aims to supercharge Black students’ career prospects and confidence through access to meaningful work experience and employers with a genuine interest in recruiting diverse talent into their workforce. The programme was created in response to the emerging and existing placement progression gaps between Black and white students at Loughborough University. The scheme runs over two years and offers a community of peers to network with; a safe space to share knowledge and experiences; opportunities to meet employers who know the importance of diversity in the workforce; and guidance to develop students’ skillset to help them secure their dream roles.
Since launching in 2020, the programme has supported almost 700 students. It has been tailored each year following student feedback, and an external evaluation in 2022/23 confirmed the programme has had a significant impact on placement progression by 16 percentage points since its inception.
The full shortlist can be viewed online.
Congratulations to all of the Loughborough University nominees. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 28 November 2024 in Birmingham.